Obituary of John M. Adair

John was born in Portland, Maine and lived in South Dakota and Wisconsin as a child. He graduated as Salutatorian from Greely Institute in Cumberland Center, Maine. He was one of six students in the United States to receive an AMVETS scholarship that was awarded by then Vice President Richard Nixon in Washington, DC. John earned an AB degree with a triple major in German, Mathematics, and Psychology at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received an MA in English at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, and was a Teaching Assistant in the English program at the university. He completed course work for a Ph.D. in English Literature at the University of Delaware. He began his teaching career as Assistant Professor of English at Cumberland County College in Vineland, New Jersey. John celebrated 50 years at Cumberland County College in 2017! During this time, he served as Division Chairperson for seven years. But, loved the classroom and taught English and courses in British Literature, Short Story, the Bible as Literature, and others. John was fortunate to attend 32 seminars during the summer at Oxford University and Cambridge University in England, Edinburgh University in Scotland, and Trinity College in Ireland. He was a recognized Anglophile! Throughout these experiences he met grandsons of famous authors, Maggie Smith, Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, and Ralph Ellison. John is well traveled having toured Europe, Canada, and the United States, visiting art galleries and libraries. John was honored in September for 50 years as Professor of English at the college. He is an accomplished professional, a collector of books and antique cars, and enjoys photography as a hobby. In lieu of flowers, to honor the legacy of John Adair, contributions can be made in his name to the Cumberland County College Foundation, 3322 College Drive, Vineland, NJ 08361.